Question:
Statement I: India’s first wolf sanctuary is located at Bankapur in Karnataka.
Statement II: The Indian grey wolf is classified as an endangered species by the IUCN.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
(B) Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
(C) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect
(D) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct
The correct and complete answer is:
(D) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.
Explanation:
- Statement I is incorrect because India’s first dedicated wolf sanctuary is the Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary located in Latehar district, Jharkhand, established in 1976. It is the earliest and only dedicated wolf sanctuary in India, primarily protecting the Indian grey wolf population. The Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary, located in Karnataka, is Karnataka’s first wolf sanctuary but not the first in India, having been established much later.
- Statement II is correct. The Indian grey wolf is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in regional assessments. It faces various threats such as habitat loss, hunting, and human-wildlife conflict. It is also listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India, indicating the highest level of protection.
Hence, the accurate understanding is that the first wolf sanctuary in India is in Jharkhand (Mahuadanr), not Bankapur, and the Indian grey wolf is endangered.
This makes answer choice (D) the most appropriate response to the question.